Abstract

Aims To highlight the potential difficulties in the management of staff with aconscientious objection to abortion, in light of expanding role of nurses.Background Recent years have seen changes in the provision of abortion services.Medical procedures are now gaining popularity and some areas are seeing the integrationof outpatient clinics into ward settings. This may involve nurses beingrequired to provide care to women undergoing termination of pregnancy, whichmay not have previously been within their remit. This has implications for staff witha conscientious objection.Methods A review of the academic literature.Results The advent of medical abortion has led to changes in the way in whichabortion services are provided which in turn has re-ignited the debate of the competingrights of nurses with a conscientious objection and those of the patientaccessing abortion services.Conclusions This extended role of nurses creates challenges for staff working inclinical areas offering termination of pregnancy and these are further compoundedwhen staff have expressed a conscientious objection to abortion.Implications for Nursing Management Managers face new challenges in achievingthe fine balance between the rights of staff with a conscientious objection toabortion and women accessing abortion services.